Extendable wheel barrow handle adapters

ABSTRACT

Embodiments of the present invention relate to an adapter that fits over a wheel barrow handle that is extendable. By way of this extension, the height of a handle portion of the adapter may be changed so as to change the effective height of the wheel barrow handle. In this way, a user of the wheel barrow can lift the wheel barrow from a more comfortable height.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a Continuation of U.S. Utility application Ser. No.11/807,842, which was filed on May 30, 2007.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to an adapter for a wheel barrowhandle and more particularly to an extendable wheel barrow handleadapter.

DESCRIPTION OF RELATED ART

Wheel barrows are well known and have been used for many years. However,in most instances, a wheel barrow's handles are fixed to the body of thewheel barrow and can be awkward for some users.

Because of height differences and differences in arm lengths, somepeople find a conventional wheel barrow difficult to use. In particular,when moving a wheel barrow on an incline or decline, many users have tostoop or bend awkwardly to create an effective grip on the wheel barrow.Doing so, especially for long periods of time, can lead to a sore back,sore hands and other infirmities.

Also, the leverage for lifting a wheel barrow is sometimes difficult toprovide using handles which extend straight away from the body of thewheel barrow. Thus, there exists in this field a need for wheel barrowwith handles that are adjustable in height and that can be arranged tohelp provide additional leverage for lifting the wheel barrow.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Embodiments of the present invention relate to an adapter that fits overa wheel barrow handle that is extendable. By way of this extension, theheight of a handle portion of the adapter may be changed so as to changethe effective height of the wheel barrow handle. In this way, a user ofthe wheel barrow can lift the wheel barrow from a more comfortableheight. Other embodiments relate to a wheelbarrow with such an adapterintegrally manufactured into the handles.

It is understood that other embodiments of the present invention willbecome readily apparent to those skilled in the art from the followingdetailed description, wherein it is shown and described only variousembodiments of the invention by way of illustration. As will berealized, the invention is capable of other and different embodimentsand its several details are capable of modification in various otherrespects, all without departing from the spirit and scope of the presentinvention. Accordingly, the drawings and detailed description are to beregarded as illustrative in nature and not as restrictive.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 Depicts a handle adapter in accordance with the principles of thepresent invention.

FIG. 2 depicts another view of the handle adapter of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 depicts the handle adapter of FIG. 1 with adjustment holes inaccordance with the principles of the present invention.

FIG. 4 depicts a detailed view of the rotatable receiver and sleeve ofthe present invention.

FIG. 5 depicts a locking pin through the sleeve that prevents rotationof the sleeve relative to the receiver.

FIG. 6 depicts an alternative coupling of the sleeve and the receiver.

FIG. 7 depicts an embodiment of the present wheelbarrow handle adapter.

FIG. 8 depicts a handle adapter that includes rotatable portions toprovide ergonomic benefits to the gripping portion of the adapter.

FIGS. 9 and 10 depict the handle adapters installed on a typicalwheelbarrow.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF INVENTION

The detailed description set forth below in connection with the appendeddrawings is intended as a description of various embodiments of theinvention and is not intended to represent the only embodiments in whichthe invention may be practiced. The detailed description includesspecific details for the purpose of providing a thorough understandingof the invention. However, it will be apparent to those skilled in theart that the invention may be practiced without these specific details.In some instances, well known structures and components are shown inblock diagram form in order to avoid obscuring the concepts of theinvention.

FIG. 1 depicts a wheelbarrow handle adapter in accordance with theprinciples of the present invention. In particular, a sleeve 102 isprovided in which a wheel barrow handle is inserted (from the left inthis figure). The sleeve 102 is shown separately from the remainder ofthe adapter for purposes of clarity. However, in operation, the sleeve102 is fixed to a receiver portion 108 during manufacture.

As shown, the sleeve 102 is a hollow cylinder and fits over the receiver108. The receiver 108 includes a main body 104 that fits over a handle.The handle includes a vertical portion 110 that connects to a horizontalportion 112 and then to another vertical portion 114. As explainedlater, the main body 104 can slide up and down the vertical portion 110so that the relative height of the horizontal (handle) portion 112 canbe adjusted.

Although shown as circular in this figure, one of ordinary skill willrecognize that the handle portions of the present invention are notlimited to any particular shape and neither is the shape of the mainbody 104 or receiver 108. Square, oval, and cylindrical material can beused without departing from the scope of the present invention. As forthe materials, the adapter can be made of any strong material such assteel that will withstand the rigors of use and the environment in whichwheel barrows are traditionally used. Mild to heavy gauge steel forexample may be used to provide different levels of durability. Also, thedifferent portions of the handle are depicted at nearly right angles toone another. However, such an angle is provided by way of example onlyand the handle portions may have different relative angles, or haverounded transitions, without departing from the scope of the presentinvention.

The sleeve 102 is designed so that it can accept about 6 to 8 inches ofa wheel barrow handle. Such a size allows for a secure and strongconnection between the wheel barrow handle and the adapter.

FIG. 2 provides a front view of the adapter of FIG. 1 that more clearlyshows the opening of sleeve 102 that accepts the wheel barrow handle.Although the size of the adapter may be varied without departing fromthe scope of the present invention, one advantageous size is for thevertical portion 110 to be around 8 to 10 inches, the horizontal portion112 to be about 4 to 6 inches and the second vertical position to bearound 6 to 8 inches.

As shown in FIG. 3, the horizontal portion 110 can include holes 302that are arranged at, for example 1 inch spacing (although otherspacings may be utilized). The different holes 302 align with hole inthe main body 104 as the vertical portion 110 is moved up and downrelative to the main body 104. A pin 304 is removable in an out of themain body hole and the aligned hole 302 such that the handle adapter canbe adjusted to different heights and can be locked into a particularheight.

Also shown in FIG. 3 is a hole 306 that allows a screw or bolt or someother fastener to securely hold the sleeve 102 to the wheel barrowhandle. One of ordinary skill will recognize that more than one suchfastener may be used without departing from the scope of the presentinvention.

FIG. 4 depicts the arrangement by which the sleeve 102 and the receiver108 may rotate relative to one another. A channel 402 may be present inthe receiver 108 so that a set pin 404 extends from the inside of thesleeve 102 into the groove 402. The sleeve 102 is thereby prevented fromlateral movement relative to the receiver 108 but is free to rotateabout the receiver 108. To prevent the sleeve from rotating at alltimes, however, a pin 502 can be inserted through a hole 506 in thesleeve 102. With the pin 502 engaged in such a hole 506, the sleeve 102remains stationary. By having more than one hole spaced around thesleeve 102, the handle adapter can be rotated and locked in differentpositions. As shown in FIG. 5, the pin 502 is arranged to some type ofspring or lever that allows a user to engage and disengage the pin 502.The precise mechanism that engages or disengages the spring is notcritical to the practice of the present invention. It may be through athrottle cable, a lever, a spring actuated switch, or any of a varietyof functionally equivalent means. The critical feature is that the usercan easily (with one hand and preferably a thumb) engage and disengagethe pin 502 so as to allow/prevent rotation of the main body 104relative to the sleeve 102.

As one alternative to the groove 402 and the pin 404, FIG. 6 depicts onevariation in which the sleeve 102 has a fixed pin that fits inside agroove of the receiver 108. The groove is wide enough to allow the pinto move within the groove (so as to allow rotation) but thin enough toprevent unwanted lateral movement between the receiver 108 and thesleeve 102.

As shown in FIG. 7, the pin 706 that prevents rotation is affixed tosome type of which or lever 704 that is accessible to a user's hand onthe adapter. As mentioned before, the exact spring, lever or cable 702that is used to manipulate the pin 702 is not critical to the practiceof the present invention.

In one embodiment the handle or grip portion of the adapter has anoutside sleeve 802 that rotates about an inner portion. Also, the handleportion, although not shown in the drawings clearly, may includeknurling so as to improve a user's grip on the adapter. When the adapteris rotated, the second vertical portion 114 may be used as a handle andsuch a rotating sleeve 804 and optional knurling may be used there aswell.

FIGS. 9 and 10 depict the adapter in use with a wheel barrow. FIG. 10shows the handle adapter fully rotated horizontally so that a user canutilize them to provide more leverage for lifting. Because of the designdescribed earlier, the adapters may be rotated inwardly as shown in FIG.10 or outwardly as shown by arrows 1002 and 1004. Also, the rotationdoes not necessarily have to be a full 90 degrees but can be anywherein-between. Also, although it has been implied until now, there is anadapter for each handle of the wheel barrow as shown in the drawings.Thus, in operation, two adapters are used and not the single adaptershown in the earlier figures.

The previous description is provided to enable any person skilled in theart to practice the various embodiments described herein. Variousmodifications to these embodiments will be readily apparent to thoseskilled in the art, and the generic principles defined herein may beapplied to other embodiments. Thus, the claims are not intended to belimited to the embodiments shown herein, but are to be accorded the fullscope consistent with each claim's language, wherein reference to anelement in the singular is not intended to mean “one and only one”unless specifically so stated, but rather “one or more.” All structuraland functional equivalents to the elements of the various embodimentsdescribed throughout this disclosure that are known or later come to beknown to those of ordinary skill in the art are expressly incorporatedherein by reference and are intended to be encompassed by the claims.Moreover, nothing disclosed herein is intended to be dedicated to thepublic regardless of whether such disclosure is explicitly recited inthe claims. No claim element is to be construed under the provisions of35 U.S.C. §112, sixth paragraph, unless the element is expressly recitedusing the phrase “means for” or, in the case of a method claim, theelement is recited using the phrase “step for.”

1. A wheel barrow handle adapter comprising: an elongated sleeve havinga first end and a second end opposite one another with an opening at thefirst end configured to receive a wheel barrow handle; a receivercoupled to the second end of the elongated sleeve wherein the receiverand elongated sleeve are rotatable relative to one another; the receiverincluding a main body through which a first vertical handle portionpasses wherein the main body is slidable along a length of the firstvertical handle portion; and a horizontal handle portion having a firstand second end, the first end attached to the first vertical handleportion and the second end attached to a second vertical handle portion.2. The wheel barrow handle adapter of claim 1, further comprising: a pinconfigured to pass through a first opening in the sleeve wherein whenthe pin is in a first position within the first opening the receiver andsleeve are prevented from rotating relative to one another and when thepin is in a second position entirely outside the first opening, thereceiver and sleeve are able to rotate relative to one another.
 3. Thewheel barrow handle adapter of claim 2, further comprising: a pluralityof openings within the sleeve configured to accept the pin, wherein eachopening corresponds to a different rotatable position for the receiverand sleeve.
 4. The wheel barrow handle adapter of claim 1, furthercomprising: a plurality of holes located along the first vertical handleportion; a receiver hole located in the main body of the receiver; a pinconfigured to pass through the receiver hole and one of the plurality ofholes; and wherein the receiver hole aligns with different ones of theplurality of holes as the main body slides along the first verticalhandle portion such that the pin operates to lock the receiver atdifferent positions along the first vertical handle portion.
 5. Thewheel barrow handle adapter of claim 4, wherein the plurality of holespass complete through the first vertical handle portion and the receiverhole passes completely through the main body.
 6. The wheel barrowadapter of claim 4, wherein the plurality of holes are evenly spaced. 7.The wheel barrow adapter of claim 2, wherein the pin is coupled to alever operable to move the pin between the first and second positions.8. The wheel barrow handle adapter of claim 7 wherein the lever isattached to one of the first vertical handle portion and the horizontalhandle portion.
 9. The wheel barrow handle adapter of claim 7 whereinthe lever is coupled to the pin via one of a spring and a cable.
 10. Thewheel barrow handle adapter of claim 1 further comprising: a handlesleeve configured to be positioned around the second vertical handleportion and rotatable relative to the second vertical handle portion.11. A wheelbarrow comprising: a first handle and a second handle whereineach handle further comprises: an elongated sleeve having a first andsecond end opposite one another with an opening at the first endconfigured to receive one of the first and second handles; a receivercoupled to the second end of the elongated sleeve wherein the receiverand elongated sleeve are rotatable relative to one another; the receiverincluding a main body through which a first vertical handle portionpasses wherein the main body is slidable along a length of the firstvertical handle portion; and a horizontal handle portion having a firstand second end, the first end attached to the first vertical handleportion and the second end attached to a second vertical handle portion.12. The wheelbarrow of claim 11, further comprising: a pin configured topass through a first opening in the sleeve wherein when the pin is in afirst position within the first opening the receiver and sleeve areprevented from rotating relative to one another and when the pin is in asecond position entirely outside the first opening, the receiver andsleeve are able to rotate relative to one another.
 13. The wheelbarrowof claim 12, further comprising: a plurality of openings within thesleeve configured to accept the pin, wherein each opening corresponds toa different rotatable position for the receiver and sleeve.
 14. Thewheelbarrow of claim 11, further comprising: a plurality of holeslocated along the first vertical handle portion; a receiver hole locatedin the main body of the receiver; a pin configured to pass through thereceiver hole and one of the plurality of holes; and wherein thereceiver hole aligns with different ones of the plurality of holes asthe main body slides along the first vertical handle portion such thatthe pin operates to lock the receiver at different positions along thefirst vertical handle portion.
 15. The wheelbarrow of claim 14, whereinthe plurality of holes pass complete through the first vertical handleportion and the receiver hole passes completely through the main body.16. The wheelbarrow of claim 14, wherein the plurality of holes areevenly spaced.
 17. The wheelbarrow of claim 12, wherein the pin iscoupled to a lever operable to move the pin between the first and secondpositions.
 18. The wheelbarrow of claim 17 wherein the lever is attachedto one of the first vertical handle portion and the horizontal handleportion.
 19. The wheelbarrow of claim 10 further comprising: a handlesleeve configured to be positioned around the second vertical handleportion and rotatable relative to the second vertical handle portion.20. A wheel barrow handle adapter comprising: an elongated sleeve havinga first end and a second end opposite one another with an opening at thefirst end configured to receive a wheel barrow handle; a receivercoupled to the second end of the elongated; the receiver including amain body through which a first vertical handle portion passes whereinthe main body is slidable along a length of the first vertical handleportion; a horizontal handle portion having a first and second end, thefirst end attached to the first vertical handle portion and the secondend attached to a second vertical handle portion; a plurality of holeslocated along the first vertical handle portion; a receiver hole locatedin the main body of the receiver; a pin configured to pass through thereceiver hole and one of the plurality of holes; and wherein thereceiver hole aligns with different ones of the plurality of holes asthe main body slides along the first vertical handle portion such thatthe pin operates to lock the receiver at different positions along thefirst vertical handle portion.